Sweeney: Ban NFL backup refs in NJ

Sep. 25, 2012

Written by

Geoff Mulvihill

Associated Press

TRENTON — Stephen Sweeney is hardly the only Green Bay Packers fan who thinks, after the team’s loss on a debated call Monday night, that replacement referees should be banned.

But Sweeney, president of the state Senate, appears to be the first to push for such a law.

Sweeney, the general organizer for the Ironworkers International union’s Philadelphia-New Jersey-Delaware region, said Tuesday he’s drafting legislation to bar replacement referees from NFL games and other professional sports in the Garden State, where the New York Giants and New York Jets both play.

In an interview, he said player safety is a major issue, but he’s even more concerned about fans not getting their money’s worth if bad calls are likely to change the outcome of games.

“What we have right now … is professional wrestling,” Sweeney said.

He also said the NFL is being hypocritical by locking out it regular referees amid a contract dispute.

“The NFL sued New Jersey over sports betting because they were concerned about the integrity of the game,” said Sweeney, a Democrat from Gloucester County. “They can’t have it both ways.”

While Sweeney grew up near Philadelphia, he became a Packers fan as a child in 1964 and has stuck with them ever since.

Sweeney’s bill will not be introduced before next week.

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Republican Gov. Chris Christie — a Jersey guy who grew up as a Cowboys fan but also roots for the Jets — said he doesn’t know whether Christie would sign the measure, should it clear the Legislature.

The NFL locked out the officials in June after their contract expired. The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement, so the league this season has used replacement officials, most of whom have experience only in lower levels of college football.

Concern over use of the replacement reached a new level Monday night when a highly questionable call decided the outcome of the Packers-Seahawks game.

Sweeney’s bill would ban all pro sporting events in the Garden State from using replacement officials. In addition to the Jets and Giants, that means the New Jersey Devils as well as a host of minor-league baseball teams and a professional soccer club.

The NFL and the Giants responded to Sweeney’s proposal.

“We appreciate Senator Sweeney’s interest in our game, but officiating controversies have always been part of sports,” both said in a statement. “Our league office staff, including Commissioner (Roger) Goodell, has been in negotiations with the referees union for the past week. We hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible.”

But Sweeney is not convinced.

“They are destroying the reputation of this game,” Sweeney said of the NFL and its owners. “It’s a fraud on the public.”

Gannett State Bureau writer John Schoonejongen and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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